BLM to conduct controlled burn in western Moffat County (03-23-12)

Moffat County, Colo. –The Bureau of Land Management White River Field Office is planning to burn 525 acres in Moffat County starting Tuesday, March 27th. The Badger Flat project is located approximately 12 miles northwest of Elk Springs on Moffat County Road 14. The project is anticipated to last up to four days depending on weather and fuel conditions.

The purpose of the prescribed burn is to restore suitable habitat for Northern Sage Grouse by reducing pinyon/juniper woodland encroachment into sagebrush communities. It will also reduce the safety risk to responding firefighters by decreasing the amount of live and dead fuel accumulation which will lower intensity in the event of a wildfire.

Smoke will be visible from local county roads during burning operations. Weather and fuel-moisture conditions will be closely monitored, and the burn will only be initiated if conditions are ideal for safe and effective fires. Each prescribed burn conducted by the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit has a detailed fire plan developed in advance, along with appropriate smoke permits obtained from the State of Colorado. For more information please contact the White River Field Office at 970-878-3800

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2013, the BLM generated $4.7 billion in receipts from public lands.